Brussels, 08/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission authorised the acquisition by Electrabel SA of the Elekriciteits-Produktiemaatschappij Ost-en Noord-Nederland (EPON). Electrabel is a Belgian company, controlled by Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux (SLDE), through the subsidiary of Tractebal; its activities are mainly in the production and transmission of electricity and natural gas, even if it is also present in other market such as FM/TV signal transmission via cable and the production and supply of heat. EPON in mainly active in the Dutch electricity sector, but also develops services annexed such as the generation and sale of heat. The two parties are also active in the electricity markets, through their shareholder APX (Amsterdam Power Exchange).
Although the parties' activities overlap in certain sectors, the Commission concluded that the operation is not likely to restrict competition. It observed that (1) the electricity markets concerned are ring-fenced at national level by regulatory frameworks, prices and technical constraints that continue to limit imports and exports, (2) specific APX regulations prevent participants from owning more than a 10% share and, as a result, Electrabel will have to sell its EPON share, (3) the merger will not result in a significant market share in the sector of the production and supply of heat.